Steam trap



H. RICHTER l July 16, 1940.

STEAM TRAP Filed Nov. 5, 1937 2 Sheets-Shee't l lIl/Il//llllll July i6, 1940. l H RICHTER 2,208,390

STEAM TRAP I Filed NOV. 5, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 1940 v UNITED STATES STEAM TRAP Hans Richter, Bremen, Germany Application YNoveinber, 1937, Serial No. 172;964

. In Germany November 6, 1936,

Ve Claims. l(el. 137-103) `This invention relates to steamtraps and the like and more particularly to al ioat controlled device for draining condensation water andair from steam heating plants, cooking utensils and 16..: the like. l 1 l One of the primary objects of the invention is to providea steam trap of the type indicated of simple and keconomical construction which will drain the condensation Water and the imprisoned l@ air effectively without loss of steam. f l

A further object is to provide ak steam `trap `Which will permit convenient inspection of the condensate at alltinies.l l

Other objects and advantages will become ap- 1 parent as the .specification proceedsandwhen taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferredembodiment of the inventive concept together with possible modications thereof.j l 90 In the drawings: l

` Figure 1 is a cross section of a steam trap ac cording to the invention.,l

'FigureZ isa section along the lineZ--Z` of FigureLmfw l 'l V 2Q :"FigureS is a sectionalong the line 3--3V of Figure 1. l

Figure 4 is a'modied construction. Figure 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of Figure 4. y

Figure 6 is still another modification. Figure 7 is a modified valve construction according to the invention and v Figure 8 is another modied valve construction. As previously stated the instant invention relates to a steam trap in which the drainage valve is controlled by means of a iloat. This float mechanism is in turn actuated by the condensation water in the steam trap. Thus, if the level of the condensation water drops to minimum the drainage valve will be closed. When the level rises on the other hand, the float mechanism will` operate t'o open the valve to drain the condensate. Howeven the considerable loss of steam during the draining in the steam traps heretofore used has presented a serious problem. Attemptshave been made to prevent the escape of steam during the drainage bykeeping the water` level slightly above the drainage opening even when the iloat is in its lowest position, that is, when the valve is fully closed.` l

Investigations have shown, however, that despite this arrangement the 'strong current Voccasioned by the discharge of the condensation Water producesa vortex or a whirl somewhat similar to 55 a water spout, the velocity of which is proportionate to the pressure of the,` discharge Water and' the crosssection ofthe vdrainage opening. This Whirl or spout inturn produces a suction through the waterwhich will draw also live steam through This phenomenon atsthe drainage opening. counts 'for the considerable loss of` live steam.;

. The purpose of the present invention is .to

isolate this whirl formed` during the dischargeV of.` the, condensation water from the livesteam so` that onlyiwater and imprisoned air `will be drained from the trap. 1 Referring tothe embodiment ofthe invention disclosed in .detail in the drawings, the; novel steam trap `comprises a' steam chamber I0 into vwhich the live steam is conducted throughlthe opening II. The-condensation water is drained through the drainage opening I2 and into the drainage conduit I3. The drainage opening I2 is opened andclosed by the valve v I4 rwhich lin y turn `is controlled bytheffloat I5I having, a lever and closes thevalvei'M.

Itwilllbe not-icedthat `the device is `so-con-` structed that the water level will be above the level of the drainage opening even whenfthefloat in its lowest position in ,the steam chamber. The drainage opening andfthe valve-is isolated from the `livegsteamtby means of the hood IB which encloses entirely the drainage opening and the valve and extends towards the vicinity of the iloat I5. This hood I8 is provided with an opening I6 connected with a crank shaft I'I which opens I9 adjacent the door of the steam chamber I0.

This opening is preferablywide horizontally and narrow in height so that that part of` the hood facing the float I5 will be covered by the sealing liquid even when the oat is in its lowest position.

f Because of the partial' vacuum produced during the drainage operation the water Will be at a I higher level within the hood I8 than in the steam chamber proper.

When the water level rises by virtue of the condensation of the steam, the oat I5 will open the valve I4. 'Ihe current produced by the drainage through the drainage openingk I5 and the conduit I3 will produce a whirl 25. Under ordinary circumstances this whirl would also suck out the steam-in the steam chamber Ill but, by virtue of the isolating hood I8, only the trapped air Within the hood will escape which is one of the desired purposes of the steam trap.

Because of the Wide opening I9 of the hood,

the velocity of the current at this point is pracf y tically nil and, consequently, no Whirl is formed. However,` for the sake of precaution a bafe 20 is provided on the hood in order to prevent the water level' from dropping too rapidly should vacuum be produced despite the low velocity of the current.

In the modification illustrated in Figure 4, the lever 2l instead of being arranged along the side of the hood 22, is bent at 23 through the opening I9. This lever may be connected to the valve I4 in the same manner as the lever i6 in the modification shown in Figure 1.

A beine 24 is provided on the hood for the narily is colorless, visible through these windows. l

Thus, it may be ascertained at any time Whether there is air within the hood 22 and whether this air is sucked out of the whirl. The windows are preferably extended vertically but narrow horizontally so that the whirling current may be observed through its entire length. l

In the modication illustrated in Figure 6, the hood and fioat mechanism is arranged similar to Figure 1. The valve 30, however', is yof the rel ciprocating type and is provided With a strainer or screen 21 which serves to distribute the k'current over a greater area.- Thus, the formation of one strong whirl or spout will be'prevented and instead there will be'a plurality of currents. The lever 3| is provided with a gaging the shaft 33.

Figure 'Tshows aldifferentkind of a current distributor 28 and Figure 8 shows ai ball chamber 29 which may be arrangedl immediately above the drainage opening. This ball *chamber will split up. the whirl intoa plurality of irregular partial whirls.

These current distributors, 'although not essential tothe operation of the mechanism are desirable in order to relieve tension onV the isolating hood, particularly when the operating pressure is high and whenv the discharge openingis comparatively large."

' It will be understood that the 'specicillustraslotted' link 32 en'-` tionsfshown have been given by way of example and not by way cflimitation and these structures are naturally subject to wide variation and modcation without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, the isolating hood may be given e. different form and the current distributors may embody a great variety of constructions.

I claim: i

\ l. A steam trap construction comprising a casing having an inlet for live steam and an outlet for condensation water and a valve for controlling said outlet, said outlet being disposed in the oor of'said casing, a space in said casing for collecting the condensation water, said space extending below the level of said outlet, a partition forming a chamber within said casing extending lover and above said outletand said `valve :and downward into said water` collecting space but spaced from the floor thereof to form an opening for` admission Vof Water into said chamber, saidopening being larger in cross sec-l tion than said outlet opening whereby whirls during4 the draining operation will be prevented'x y and float controlled means in said casing for maintaining the level of the condensation water above saidopening, whereby said chamber will be isolated from the steam and escape of steam through said outlet will be prevented.

2. A steam trap construction comprising Pa casing having an inlet for live steam and an outlet for condensation water anda valve'for controlling said outlet, said outlet being disposed in the floor of said casing, a space in said casing for collecting the condensation Water, said space extending below the level of said outlet, a partition forming a chamber within said casing extending over and above said outlet and-said valve and downward into said' water collecting space but spaced from the floor thereof to form an opening for admission ofwater into said chamber, said opening being larger in cross-section than said outlet opening whereby whirls duringthe draining operation will be prevented, and means connected `with said valveffor controlling the same.

' HANS RICHTER. 

